Category Archives: Epidemiology
Incidence and risk factors of atrial fibrillation and atrial arrhythmias in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases in people living with HIV (PLWH) are becoming increasingly relevant as HIV/AIDS has become more treatable with the advent of highly efficacious antiretroviral therapy. Previous studies suggested...
The effect of antiretroviral therapy with high central nervous system penetration on HIV-related cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Chronic complications are a significant concern for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) infection. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are prevalent in PLWHA. Yet, the efficacy of medications that penetrate the central...
Risk of hepatitis C reinfection following successful therapy among people living with HIV: A global systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression
Background: The benefits of direct-acting antivirals towards the elimination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in people living with HIV are decreased when individuals are reinfected with HCV following treatment. We aimed...
Diagnostic accuracy of WHO screening criteria to guide lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan testing among HIV-positive inpatients: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
Background: WHO recommends urine lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) testing with AlereLAM in HIV-positive inpatients only if screening criteria are met. We assessed the performance of WHO screening criteria and alternative screening tests/strategies...
Coagulation parameters in human immunodeficiency virus infected patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Coagulation abnormalities are common complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) decreased the mortality of HIV but increased coagulopathies. HIV-related thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time...
A review of sexual transmitted infection rates among sexually assaulted patients that present for care
BACKGROUND: Patients who experience sexual assault are at risk of adverse health outcomes including sexually transmitted infections (STI) and often present to various healthcare centers for post-assault care. Unfortunately, there...
Catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective To estimate the incidence of, and trends in, catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We systematically reviewed the scientific and grey literature to identify population-based studies on catastrophic...
Strategies to improve HIV care outcomes for people with HIV who are out of care
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of five intervention strategies: patient navigation, appointment help/alerts, psychosocial support, transportation/appointment accompaniment, and data-to-care on HIV care outcomes among persons...
Public availability of HIV-1 drug resistance sequence and treatment data: A systematic review
HIV-1 pol sequences from antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive and ART-experienced people living with HIV-1 are fundamental to understanding the genetic correlates and epidemiology of HIV-1 drug resistance (HIVDR). To assess the public availability...
Burden of tuberculosis and hepatitis co-infection among people living with HIV in Nepal: A systematic review and meta-analysis
People living with HIV (PLHIV) are prone to tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis co-infections, which cause substantial burden on morbidity and mortality. However, data on the burden of HIV co-infection from...
Clinical decision support systems to guide healthcare providers on HIV testing
Objective: To understand the impact of clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) on improving HIV testing and diagnosis. Design: An original global systematic review (PROSPERO Number: CRD42020175576) of peer-reviewed articles reporting on electronic...
